Lighted surgical access system

Abstract

The lighted surgical access system is provided that includes a circumferential retractor and a plastic optical fiber (POF) attached thereto. The circumferential retractor retracts and protects a patient's body opening while the POF illuminates the internal surgical site, body cavity and/or body opening.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lighted surgical access system to illuminate internally a body cavity comprising:
 an outer ring arranged to be placed outside of a body cavity;   an inner ring arranged to be placed inside of the body cavity;   a sheath having a proximal end connected to the outer ring and a distal end connected the inner ring, the sheath delimiting an access channel extending from the outer ring to the inner ring;   a light generator arranged to be connectable to a laparoscope;   a plastic optical fiber (POF) comprising a POF leader being a proximal portion of the POF and a POF tail being a distal portion of the POF, the POF leader extending beyond the outer ring and connectable to the light generator; and   a sleeve connected to a distal portion of the sheath and spaced from the inner ring, the sleeve extending radially around the distal portion of the sheath and the POF tail being positioned within the sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The lighted surgical access system of  claim 1  wherein the POF tail comprises a plurality of cuts. 
     
     
         3 . The lighted surgical access system of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of cuts are disposed on a side of the POF tail that faces away from the inner ring and are angled. 
     
     
         4 . The lighted surgical access system of  claim 2  wherein the POF tail further comprises a non-transparent material covering a portion of the POF tail. 
     
     
         5 . The lighted surgical access system of  claim 4  wherein the POF tail further comprises a reflective material disposed between the non-transparent material and the plurality of cuts. 
     
     
         6 . The lighted surgical access system of  claim 1  further comprising a non-transparent material covering the POF leader. 
     
     
         7 . The lighted surgical access system of  claim 6  wherein the POF leader further comprises a reflective material disposed between the non-transparent material and the POF leader. 
     
     
         8 . The lighted surgical access system of  claim 6  wherein the POF leader comprises a plurality of cuts. 
     
     
         9 . The lighted surgical access system of  claim 1  further comprising a light cable connectable to the light generator and a proximal end of the POF leader. 
     
     
         10 . The lighted surgical access system of  claim 1  further comprising a light cable connectable to the lighter generator and at least one of an adaptor or a connector, the at least one of the adaptor or the connector being connectable to the proximal end of the POF leader and comprising an adjustable opening arranged to connect to the light cable. 
     
     
         11 . The lighted surgical access system of  claim 10  wherein the at least one of the adaptor or the connector comprises a clamp arranged to adjust the adjustable opening. 
     
     
         12 . The lighted surgical access system of  claim 1  further comprising a first light cable, a second light cable, and a double-sided adaptor having a first side connectable to the first light cable and a second side connectable to a connector on a proximal end of the POF leader, the first side of the adaptor also being connectable to the connector and the second side being connectable to the second light cable, the first side of the double-sided adaptor having a connection interface different from a connection interface of the second side of the double-sided adaptor. 
     
     
         13 . The lighted surgical access system of  claim 1  further comprising a reflective material positioned within the sleeve. 
     
     
         14 . The lighted surgical access system of  claim 1  wherein the sheath has an inner surface and an outer surface, the sleeve being connected to the outer surface of the sheath and further comprising a reflective material positioned on the inner surface of the sheath. 
     
     
         15 . The lighted surgical access system of  claim 1  wherein a distal end of the POF tail has an angled end profile. 
     
     
         16 . The lighted surgical access system of  claim 1  further comprising an end cap connected to a distal end of the POF tail. 
     
     
         17 . The lighted surgical access system of  claim 16  further comprising a reflective material attached to the end cap. 
     
     
         18 . A lighted surgical access system to illuminate internally a body cavity comprising:
 an outer ring arranged to be placed outside a body cavity;   an inner ring arranged to be placed inside the body cavity;   a sheath having a proximal end connected to the outer ring and a distal end connected the inner ring, the sheath delimiting an access channel extending from the outer ring to the inner ring;   a light generator arranged to be connectable to a laparoscope;   a plastic optical fiber (POF) comprising a POF leader being a proximal portion of the POF and a POF tail being a distal portion of the POF, the POF leader extending beyond the outer ring and connectable to the light generator and the POF tail comprising a plurality of cuts disposed on one side of the POF tail and the POF leader comprising a plurality of cuts and a non-transparent material covering the plurality of cuts of the POF leader; and   a sleeve connected to a distal portion of the sheath and spaced from the inner ring and disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, the sleeve extending around the distal portion of the sheath and having a channel through which the POF tail extends therethrough.   
     
     
         19 . The lighted surgical access system of  claim 18  wherein the sleeve is sealed to the distal portion of the sheath and is impermeable. 
     
     
         20 . The lighted surgical access system of  claim 19  wherein the light generator comprises at least one of a Xeon light source, a light output of at least 1500 lumens, or a 300-watt light source.